Cocoaby
ox KrissyComment by fotodude: just ran across this image as i was bumping around and thought i might drop a comment seeing as how u have so few....
it a good idea and u got a nice score in the end...also ppl. were happy to see something other than sugar...i know i was.... anyways
1st thing is 1st u shot it @ ISO 1600 why? lighting can help out alot even some as non pro as a desk lamp...i use about 3 or 4 clip lights/desk lights when i do my "studio" shots..i would bring the ISO down to around 200 or 400 and add some strong lighting to the subject.
also u took it with a shutter of 1/40 and an apiture of f5.6 if u had droped the apiture to 3.5 (or as low as u can) u would've let more light it allowing for a faster shuter speed and more of a portrait affect with the white cup to be (which in your shot is) out of focus causing the subject the cocoa to really pop off the spoon and grab the viewers attention.
after those points are adressed take it or leave it, u still have a prob. with downsizing to a lower file size.
now there r many different things that cause this...but it is all based on what application u r using to bring your shots down in.
if u want any help with this for future challenges u can PM me and let me know what u r doing in which program and i'll send u back a step by step (depending on if i know the softwhere) on how to propperly do achive a small file...........
the only reason i bring it up is b/c in a challenge such as this 1 needs to have very sharp detail and if u have a low res jpg chunk blocking the subject it detracts from the image and the votes it will recive....
have a great day and keep shooting.....
splendid idea...and good luck to u in future challenges
_brando_
Photographer found comment helpful.